New gas sector master plan ready, awaiting announcement

Aiming at producing 12,000 million feet per day (mmcfd) gas by 2041, the government has finalised the draft of a new master-plan for the country’s gas sector. The plan is drafted especially by keeping in mind 7% annual economic growth after 2020. The other issues considered in the master plan are slower development and modest penetration of coal in the power sector, and fall of gas penetration in power generation from 70% to 40%. The issues were brought to light as Power Cell under power, energy and mineral resources ministry placed the final draft presentation at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday. According to the presentation, the government is considering importing gas from Myanma, and exploring the onshore and offshore gas extraction opportunities to help implement the master plan. The ever-growing demand of gas will also be met through imported liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), the draft says, adding, the ministry will hold a final meeting to declare the master plan within a month. “We think the master plan would be implemented timely, incorporating rational opinions,” said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid while addressing the programme, as chief guest, where the presentation was made. “Since the scenario of the global energy sector is changing, Bangladesh needs to ensure energy security amid its limited resources,” he said. The master plan reads that Bangladesh, on average, faces a shortage of  2,754 mmcfd gas against the demand for over 3,729 mmcfd. Petrobangla Chairman  Abul Mansur Md Faizullah, Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh Mikael Hemniti Winther, Director of Ramboll Soren Lovstad Christensen and Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain, among others, addressed the programme. On December 15, 2016, Power Cell had inked a deal with Denmark-based consulting group Ramboll to prepare a new master plan for the gas sector focusing on demand-supply projections, assessment of oil and gas exploration possibilities and development of road map to enhance gas reserve. The Power Cell will also finalise a new power sector master plan with financial and technical assistance from  The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).